Lucknow: The purpose of human life is to realise the truth, said Swami Muktinathananda, president of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow, while addressing the Thursday morning Sat Prasang.
Speaking on the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Swami Muktinathananda described him as an extraordinary embodiment of devotion, love, renunciation and God-realisation in the Indian spiritual tradition. He said Sri Ramakrishna’s life reflected the belief that God is not merely a distant divine power but can manifest among human beings and participate in the world through divine play, or leela.
The Swami explained the concept of divine incarnation, noting that according to Indian philosophy, when God assumes human form, the divine may appear to function within the limitations and circumstances of ordinary human life. Consequently, an incarnation may also experience physical suffering and illness. While devotees may interpret such experiences in the context of leela and a deeper spiritual purpose, physician Dr Mahendralal Sarkar approached Sri Ramakrishna’s illness primarily from a scientific and medical perspective.
Swami Muktinathananda said the conversations between Sri Ramakrishna, his devotees and Dr Sarkar offer an important meeting point between science, medicine, devotion and spiritual experience. He noted that the contrasting perspectives provide an opportunity to understand truth at different levels.
Emphasising the nature of genuine devotion, he said Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings were deeply aligned with the spirit of the Narada Bhakti Sutra, where intense love and yearning for God are regarded as a higher expression of devotion. Rituals and external practices alone, he said, do not constitute true devotion; genuine devotion arises from profound love and an intense longing for divine realisation.
Such devotion, he added, can lead to surrender, compassion and inner peace. Spiritual realisation is also regarded as a state in which doubts and inner bondage gradually disappear, transforming the seeker from within.
Swami Muktinathananda observed that Sri Ramakrishna’s influence extended beyond his devotees, with the association of a scientifically minded person like Dr Sarkar demonstrating that dialogue between reason and spirituality is possible.
Concluding his address, he said Sri Ramakrishna’s message inspires people towards love, devotion and surrender, reminding seekers that the ultimate purpose of spiritual life is to move beyond external achievements towards divine love and the realisation of inner truth.
